Updated June 2013: This run couldn't happen because of some administrative problems. Also, Barefoot Runner India's website is leading 404Error. Reason is not known to author.
It’s easy to be a part of this
Guinness Book of World Records event, either as a barefoot-runner or as
Bullet-Marshal. To register for Navi Mumbai Barefoot Half-Marathon 2011, you
may visit their site at https://www.facebook.com/barefootrunnersindia. You may take part in the
barefoot-run or minimalist run, or even can registered for Half
Marathon-Running Shoes, and 6 km-Fitness run too. International registrations
can also be done there. If you have it in you, you may register for the
Bisonhood and be a part of Marshall Team at http://www.bisonsridehard.com.
(Image Source: Most of the images have been taken from the BarefootRunnersIndia)
Have you ever run a few
kilometres barefoot, that too for a Guinness Records, and not shoed with
the best sneakers in market for your diabetes, weight-problems or so? If not,
here may be a chance to run barefoot or ride your pride, the bullet, for a special
cause.
 |
| Navi Mumbai 2010 Guinness Record |
Taking inspiration from the
very first ‘original’ marathon run from Marathon to Athens in Greece by
barefoot-Pheidippides, some 2500 years ago, BarefootRunnersIndia is organising
a Navi Mumbai Half Marathon 2011. Last year, in its first edition held on 12
December, 2010, with 306 barefoot runners, the organisation successfully
registered to Guinness World records as the Largest Barefoot Race. This year,
with a larger goal and over 1000 barefoot-runners the record is about to
re-build! Moreover, all barefoot participants will get a certification of
participation in a World Record event too.
If you are confused that how a
half-marathon be run without shoes, just a titbit that it’s you who actually
runs for a few meters, 6 kilometers, half or a full marathon and never are the
shoes that you bought some other day at that flashing store. According to a
study published in Jan 2010 issue of Nature by Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor
of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, and colleagues, “Humans
have engaged in endurance running for millions of years, but the modern running
shoe was not invented until the 1970s. For most of human evolutionary history,
runners were either barefoot or wore minimal footwear such as sandals or
moccasins with smaller heels and little cushioning relative to modern running
shoes. We wondered how runners coped with the impact caused by the foot
colliding with the ground before the invention of the modern shoe. … Until
1972, when the modern athletic shoe was invented by Nike, people ran in very
thin-soled shoes, had strong feet, and had much lower incidence of knee injuries”
Contemporarily, Christopher
McDougall studied the Tarahumara Indian tribe’s ability to run
‘barefoot’ ultra distances (over 100 miles) at incredible speeds, without
getting the routine injuries of most American runners. He came up with a New York
Best seller on the art of running, ‘Born to Run’.
“If
running shoes never existed, more people would be running, If more people ran,
fewer would be dying of degenerative heart disease, sudden cardiac arrest,
hypertension, blocked arteries, diabetes and most other deadly ailments of the
Western world, If that’s a staggering amount of guilt to lay at Nike’s feet,
Nike already knew it.” - McDougall
Interesting is the consortium
of the BarefootRunnersIndia with the BisonsRideHard riders. While BarefootRunners
emphasize on running barefoot or minimalist running, the Bisons are proud
riders of Bullet, a machine that’s less mech and more man! Bisons Ride Hard
represents a similar-minded Bulleters group with members all over from Greater
Mumbai and a single passion to Ride Hard, Ride Safe, and Ride Miles with
Smiles!
 |
| Anand Anantharaman hoisting the Indian tricolour at North Pole after the marathon race |
 |
| Milind Soman Chief Gues, NMBHM 2011 |
Anand Anantharaman, 55, is one
of the managing trustees of the BarefootRunnersIndia Organisation. To his
credit goes a number of Marathons, Mumbai and worldwide, as well as the Great
Wall of China –run and North Pole Marathon 2011. Participation in Athens
Classic marathon, in 2010, exactly after 2500 years of the original run by
Pheidippedes, inspired him to run barefoot as the great messenger did years
back! The thought later gave birth to BarefootRunnersIndia organisation and
Guinness Record Navi Mumbai Barefoot Marathon 2010. The organisation is proud
about their association with youth-icon Milind Soman, who has given his consent
to be a part of the Marathon 2011 barefoot or in minimals.
On the BarefootRunnersIndia’s
feat to register a Guinness World Record for largest ever Barefoot Half
marathon with over 1000 participants, Bisons have committed to voluntarily
marshal the ride with water and first-aid in reach and every bend, every
corner, everywhere on the scheduled route. As the Bisons commit, ‘..to meet such exigencies, Bullet riders,
loaded with 40+kg water, first-aid and provisions will constantly marshal the
route. Help, is never more than a shout away’.
It’s easy to be a part of this
Guinness Book of World Records event, either as a barefoot-runner or as
Bullet-Marshal. To register for Navi Mumbai Barefoot Half-Marathon 2011, you
may visit their site at https://www.facebook.com/barefootrunnersindia. You may take part in the
barefoot-run or minimalist run, or even can registered for Half
Marathon-Running Shoes, and 6 km-Fitness run too. International registrations
can also be done there. If you have it in you, you may register for the
Bisonhood and be a part of Marshall Team at http://www.bisonsridehard.com.
Your ticket to Guinness was
never so near....
(Image Source: Most of the images have been taken from the BarefootRunnersIndia)
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